2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Modern Languages](/majors/foreign-languages-linguistics/linguistics-comparative-literature/modern-languages/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong modern languages education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for modern languages students.
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2027 Best Value Modern Languages Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the modern languages degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Modern Languages Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern Indiana the best value for a degree in modern languages in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Modern Languages graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,999 median debt. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in modern languages, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $25,924 to complete the modern languages program here. Modern Languages graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $20,939 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,924 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in modern languages will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the modern languages program here. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #4 place for modern languages. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Modern Languages graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Modern Languages graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $25,921 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned it the #5 place for modern languages. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $23,917. Soon after graduation, modern languages degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value modern languages schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Students borrow a median of $25,479 to complete the modern languages program here. Modern Languages graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $34,935 early in their careers. Set against $25,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Toledo earned the #7 position for value in modern languages this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for modern languages graduates is $24,923. Early-career modern languages graduates make about $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
